How Do Pesticide Regulations Protect The Public?
Every day pest control technicians work with highly dangerous chemicals. These chemicals are designed to annihilate pests. But at this point you may be wondering, if these chemicals can destroy pests, what can they do to you? It’s a good question. The answer is that in most cases, these poisons have the potential to harm you, along with the pests. In order to prevent this from happening, the government has created strict pesticide regulations.
How pesticide regulations protect you from harm
Did you know that working in the pest control industry is extremely dangerous? The reason for this is simple. Pest control technicians work with some of the most dangerous chemicals in the world. This includes many deadly compounds such as pesticides, rodenticides, and other poisons. These chemicals can harm humans as well pests.
To stop this from happening the government has created strict pesticide regulations.
These regulations include things like the control of pesticides regulations act (COPR) and the biocidal products regulation (BPR). Essentially these acts lay out a series of guidelines for using pesticides. These include certain rules such as the following:
1. Only certain people can purchase pesticides
Due to the danger involved, only certain people are allowed to purchase these pesticides. Their sale is restricted to licensed pest control technicians. This prevents these chemicals from getting into the wrong hands. It also stops those who do not know what they are doing from gaining access to pesticides.
Using these chemicals is extremely dangerous and must be done in a certain way. For example, you need to wear personal protective equipment when using them. By limiting their sale to professionals, the government helps to protect the public. In addition to this, before any pesticide can be sold it must go through a governmental approval process. Any company with a pest control contract will have this approval for any pest treatments.
2. All sales are tracked
All sales of pesticides are recorded and tracked because this helps the government control who is purchasing them. Once again, this helps to prevent these chemicals from getting into the wrong hands, and helps to protect the public.
Also, when purchasing some types of pesticides, special authorisation must be granted. You are also required to provide a reason as to why you are purchasing the pesticides.
3. Special pesticide regulations must be followed when using pesticides
When using pesticides these are certain pesticide regulations which have to be followed. For example, technicians are required to record what types of pesticide is used. They also need to record how much was used, and where it was sprayed. Finally, technicians need to create a detailed plan for how they are going to use the pesticides. Basically, everything is recorded and this helps to protect the public from harm, especially in the food industry.
Many of these pesticide regulations are also designed to protect animal life. Pest control has to be carried out in a wildlife responsible way. For example, when laying bait traps, technicians are required to frequently check these traps.
This is to make sure that bait has not spilled out of the trap. If bait has spilled it can be eaten by animals or small children. Also, bait traps must be removed once the pests have been destroyed.
The bottom line is that you have nothing to worry about! Although pesticides are extremely dangerous, pesticide regulations protect you from harm. These regulations are extremely strict and this prevents hazardous chemicals from being misused (or falling into the wrong hands). What you also have to remember is that pest control technicians work with these chemicals every day. And if pest control regulations can protect them, they can protect you.